Creamline to seal perfect campaign with crown

Defending champion Creamline sets out to put the finishing touches to a perfect campaign Saturday and bag the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference championship when the Cool Smashers slug it out with PetroGazz at Filoil Flying V Centre.

With a 19-0 record capped by an authoritative Game 1 win on Wednesday, the Cool Smashers are hoping to put icing on the cake in the tournament that has had their names written all over it.

Alyssa Valdez, the national team stalwart and the league’s main draw, promised an all-out game for Creamline, which has so far only lost five sets the entire conference.

“We want to win it, our mind-set is to give our all,” said Valdez, who scored 19 points for the Cool Smashers in Game 1’s straight sets victory.

Jema Galanza, the former Adamson top spiker, said the key would still be their service game, which caused trouble for the Angels in terms of reception and setting up plays.

“Since PetroGazz is the No. 1 team in receiving, coach Tai [Bundit] wants us to come up with strong serves,” said Galanza.

Of course, the Angels have other problems aside from reception. Because unlike them, the Cool Smashers have an array of scoring options.

Galanza hit 15 points, Michele Gumabao 10, while Risa Sato and Celine Domingo contributed five each in Game 1 for Creamline. Jia Morado, the Cool Smashers’ top setter, tossed 21 excellent sets.

PetroGazz finished No. 2 after the eliminations but has yet to really pose a serious threat to Creamline.

A win by Creamline would also mean a revenge against PetroGazz, which stunned the Cool Smashers for the Reinforced Conference title this year.